- National forests are usually far from city lights, so plan for some stargazing on your camping trip.Dark Sunset image by ssquared from Fotolia.com
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) operates campgrounds in six units within Texas national forests and national grasslands. National forest campgrounds usually do not provide anything but the most basic bathhouse amenities. When planning a trip, check whether the site you are considering has vault or flush toilets, hot and cold water, and showers. - Located in the heart of the East Texas piney woods, Angelina lies along the Angelina River and the shores of Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Three campgrounds offer 169 campsites with parking pads, tables and grills. Camping is allowed in the backcountry. Activities include hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, water skiing and boating. The campgrounds don't accept reservations.
Angelina National Forest
111 Walnut Ridge Road
Zavalla, Texas 75980
936-897-1068
fs.fed.us/r8/texas/recreation/angelina/angelina_gen_info.shtml - Caddo National Grasslands offers 36 campsites in two campgrounds. West Lake Davy Crockett near Honey Grove has grills, tables and lake access. Bois D'Arc Trailhead near Telephone has tables only and offers horse and hiking trails.
Caddo/LBJ National Grasslands
1400 US Highway 81/287
Decatur, TX 76234
940-627-5475 - Named after the well-known frontiersman, Davy Crockett National Forest is in East Texas. The campground offers 76 sites with tables, grills and parking pads. You can bring your horse to specified camping areas at the Piney Creek trailhead and the White Rock trailhead. Camping is allowed in the backcountry except during deer-hunting season. Ratcliff Lake offers swimming, boating (electric motors only) and fishing. Fishing piers have wheelchair access. Reservations are accepted.
Davy Crockett National Forest
18551 State Highway 7 East
Kennard, TX 75847
936-655-2299
fs.fed.us/r8/texas/recreation/davy_crockett/davycrockett_gen_info.shtml - This national grasslands unit is divided into several sections: two sections have campgrounds offering a total of 35 sites. Black Creek has tables and grills at each site. Tadra Point has no tables or grills but is horse-friendly and accepts reservations. There is no trash collection here: Be sure to pack out all your garbage.
Caddo/LBJ National Grasslands
1400 US Highway 81/287
Decatur, TX 76234
940-627-5475
fs.fed.us/r8/texas/recreation/caddo_lbj/caddo-lbj_gen_info.shtml - Sabine, located in East Texas along the border with Louisiana, encompasses part of Toledo Bend Reservoir, the fifth-largest man-made reservoir in the U.S. Water sports such as boating, water skiing, fishing and swimming are popular pastimes here. Sabine hosts 130 campsites in six campgrounds. Each site has a parking pad, table, grill or fireplace, and lantern pole. Hiking, horse and mountain bike trails are located throughout the forest. Backcountry camping is allowed. Some group RV sites are available. Sabine doesn't accept reservations.
Sabine National Forest
5050 Highway 21 East
Hemphill, TX 75948
409-625-344-6205
fs.fed.us/r8/texas/recreation/sabine/sabine_gen_info.shtml - Sam Houston National Forest is northwest of Houston. Four campgrounds contain a total of 138 sites. Most campsites have a table, fire ring, parking space and lantern post. The Kelly Pond campground is primitive, with no potable water available. The other campgrounds are located on portions of Lake Conroe and Double Lake. The lake campgrounds offer swimming, boating, water skiing and fishing. You can reserve some of the campsites.
Sam Houston National Forest
394 FM 1375 West
New Waverly, TX 77358
936-344-6205
fs.fed.us/r8/texas/recreation/sam_houston/samhouston_rec_opps.shtml
Angelina National Forest, Zavalla
Caddo National Grasslands, Honey Grove and Telephone
Davy Crockett National Forest, Ratcliff
Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands, Alvord
Sabine National Forest, Hemphill
Sam Houston National Forest, New Waverly
SHARE
